INTRODUCTION

Stairway to the Wood Between the Worlds

Every year at CONjuration (www.conjurationcon.com) I write a live-action Choose Your Own Adventure game that is based on magical fantasy novels, television shows, movies, or a mixture of them all. All of the participants begin in a large room where they are first read the rules and then read the introduction to the story. At the end of the story introduction they are given choices much like the Choose Your Own Adventure books that we all loved as kids. The choices they are given (either two or three) allow them to go to another room where they then hear the next part of the story. At the end of each part of the story they are given more choices. Each room has two possibilities: 1) Participants “survive” and can continue the story or 2) The participants did NOT survive and their game is over. My readers and their assistants give players stickers for “surviving” and that allows us to know who has actually made it through all the parts of the story when they eventually get to the end. The ones who make it through the entire story are awarded prizes from the CONjuration prize box (some of which are pretty darn amazing). We usually start the game with 70-120 participants and usually end the game with only 2-4 winners. We have had up to 14 winners and last year we had ZERO. We had TWO winners for this story. Making choices is hard. The Stairway to the Wood Between the Worlds story was presented at CONjuration in 2018. I find that oftentimes people get very wrapped up in one particular fandom and don’t branch out to enjoy other stories in that same genre. I wanted to create a Choose Your Own Adventure story that would give the participants a taste of some of the many, many magical worlds in literature. I decided to use the world of Narnia as my jumping off point and embed the story within the lyrics to Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven (because you either like Led Zeppelin or you just don’t know that you do….yet). The following magical worlds are used in this story: The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis Magic Kingdom of Landover series by Terry Brooks The Unwanteds series by Lisa McMann Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander Peter Pan series by J. M. Barrie Oz Series by L. Frank Baum Elric of Melnibone series by Michael Moorcock Charlie Bone series by Jenny Nimmo Royal Institute of Magic series by Victor Kloss The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll The Magicians series by Lev Grossman Land of Stories series by Chris Colfer The Young Wizards series by Diane Duane Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan Spellsinger series by Alan Dean Foster Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull

I chose these series and books were chosen for this fanfiction game because they are all AMAZING and I wanted everyone who participated in the game to become aware of them. I encourage you to read ALL of these series because they each see magic in a unique way that broadens the mind and sparks the imagination. Please excuse any typos or other errors. I’m not a professional writer and I don’t have an editor. I just like making people happy. Enjoy!

Stairway to the Wood Between the Worlds is ©2020 Christopher Paul Seckinger. All other works are copyrighted by their authors, publishers, and composers. INTRODUCTION (Narnia Series – C. S. Lewis) You are not in a great mood. Once again, your parents have forced you to go antiquing with them. All you want to do is to curl up with a good book and some hot chocolate and drift into tales of wonder, adventure, romance, and excitement. Alas, like most Saturdays, you will be traveling around from flea market to flea market as your parents seek out the “bargain of the century”. After making multiple stops, you and your parents wind up at a gigantic flea market, but this one is their favorite and you know it will be hours before you can escape to your novels again. Both of them get out of the car, energized and excited, while you follow behind, sullen and gloomy. You can’t let them know that you don’t mind coming to this flea market because they might get the wrong impression that you enjoy these trips, but it really does have some interesting things to see. More than just antiques and collectibles, this flea market also has craftsman, some of whom are quite good. Plus, there are a few book sellers there who have more than just dusty old uninteresting and outdated tomes like the other places they drag you to. As you and your parents enter the building you mother turns to you and says, “We are just going to let you wander around on your own. We know you don’t want to hang around us as we look at furniture. Here is ten dollars you can spend. You have your cell phone, right?’ You nod and say, “Yes.” “We will call you when we are finished and you can meet us at the snack bar. Sound good?” You mother asks in a distracted fashion, her eyes already darting around the huge complex looking at all the wares. “Sounds good.” You respond as you head in the opposite direction from your parents. The vendors at this market are usually in the same place and you know exactly where to find the book dealers that you are looking for and in minutes you are there. The man and lady running the booth recognize you from your previous excursions with your parents to this flea market and smile at you. You politely smile back and dive into the shelves looking for your own “special find”. As you sort through the myriad volumes on the dozens of shelves you experience a strange tugging sensation. It isn’t a tugging like one feels when someone is pulling on their arms, but more like a tugging at ones soul. You place the book you are looking at back on the shelf and look around to see what might be causing this strange feeling. Then you saw it. Across from the book sellers is a woodcrafter’s booth. There is an assortment of furniture, frames, lamp bases, and various knick-knacks spread throughout the craftsman’s multiple stalls, but your eyes, or rather your entire body, is drawn to the back corner of the booth where you see a circular staircase rising upwards. You walk over to the staircase and run your hand over the wood. It is smooth and shiny and sends tingles through your fingers as you rub it. “You like it?” a deep voice asks from behind you, startling you and making you quickly pull your hand back from the staircase. “Very much.” You answer sheepishly. “Did you make it?” “I did. It’s made of apple wood. The base, handrails, and guardrails I created by hand and the stairs are repurposed wood.” He said smiling. “What do you mean, repurposed?” You ask. “Repurposed is when you take something that used to be something else and make something new from it.” He answers. “What did the stairs used to be?” You continue questioning. “They were once part of an old wardrobe that came here all the way from England.” “Why didn’t you just keep it as a wardrobe?” You ask, a bit confused. “Well, that’s a bit of a story. The wardrobe was originally owned by a professor over in England. He has it specially made sometime in the 1920’s or 1930’s from an apple tree that he had grown from a seed. He had it for many years, taking it with him to his estate in the countryside and, eventually, taking it with him to a small cottage that he retired to after losing his fortune after WWII. He was in a train accident sometime in the late 1940’s and died. He didn’t have any heirs, so the small amount of items that he owned were auctioned off to pay his back taxes and debts. The wardrobe transferred ownership many times over the years and ultimately wound up in an antique store in London. A wholesale purchaser bought a large number of items from that store to have shipped over here to the U.S. a couple of years ago. As they were unloading the crate holding the wardrobe from the ship the chain snapped. The wardrobe and the crate crashed to the ground and shattered. As luck would have it, I happened to be near the ship on that day and saw the whole thing happen. I talked with the owner, who was of course very upset, and asked if I could have the pieces to use in woodworking. After taking pictures so he could claim the loss on his insurance, he let me have the pieces. I don’t know why, but I was kind of drawn to creating this staircase. I’ve never made one before and I’ve never made one since.” “It’s beautiful.” You say to the man as you run your fingers along the handrail again. “You can walk up, if you like. Make sure you hold onto the handrails as you go up.” The woodworker said with a smile. The stairs have beautiful carvings in them and you are almost afraid to step on them, but overcoming your apprehension, you begin to ascend the staircase. Your thoughts are suddenly muddled and you find yourself disoriented. You close your eyes to steady yourself and when you open them again you find that you appear to be underwater. An unexpected rush comes upon you and you find yourself emerging from the water and landing next to a pool of water surrounded by a grove of trees. Amazingly, you find that you are completely dry. Completely confused, you look around to see that the woods extend in every direction and the trees seem to surround more pools of water like the one that you stand next to. Leaning against a large moss covered oak tree for a moment in order to reorient yourself, you notice that the ground around your pool is covered with a silvery dust. It is unlike anything that you’ve ever seen before and you scoop some off the ground and place it in your pocket. You begin to wander through the woods in hopes of finding someone who can help you. Passing a number of small pools of water on your trek, you find yourself peering around a tree at a beautiful woman in a long, blue embroidered dress kneeling beside one of the pools and crying. You approach her carefully and quietly, but a fallen twig under your feet snaps and she lifts her head in surprise. “Who are you? Where did you come from?” the woman asks in an apprehensive voice. You introduce yourself to her and tell her your story. When you get to the part about coming up out of the pool you notice the woman nodding her head. “My name is Gael and my tale is similar. I was wandering the woods near Narrowhaven when I came across a strange tree covered in carvings. I reached to touch one of the carvings and found myself here. I discovered long ago that each of the pools leads to a different world, some of them quite lovely, some of them terrible. I just want to go home, but I can’t seem to find the pool I came from and there are so many to choose from…..” the woman says as she hangs her head and begins crying again. “How do you get back here from the other worlds?” You ask curiously. “There is a strange dust that covers the ground. I put some in a vial on my necklace. When I touch the vial then I am brought back to this strange place. I have been to dozens of worlds, but none of them have been my own. I mark each pool with a small pile of rocks after I return so that I don’t go back to the same places that I’ve already traveled. I have noticed that there are other markings at some of the pools. I don’t think we are the first to be lost in this place.” “I will help you.” You speak to Gael soothingly. “I need to make sure that I can find the way back to my own pool, if that is how I am to get back home.” “Oh, thank you so much! I can’t tell you how much that means to me!” Gael says as she stands up and grasps you in a big hug. “Which way did you come from?” You point the way back to your pool and the two of you work your way back through the woods. Luckily for you, you have walked in a fairly straight line and the path back to your pool is easy to find. You can still see your handprint in the sand near the pool from where you’d scooped up the silvery dust. You pick up a nearby rock and walk over to the tree that you’d leaned against earlier. Very carefully you begin to carve the word “Home” into the tree. “What are you doing?” Gael asks, her head tilted to the side as she watches you. “I’m marking this tree so that I’ll be able to find this spot again later.” You answer. “What are those strange markings?” the woman asks. “It says ‘home’.” You answer somberly. “What an unusual style of writing. The people in my world write much differently.” She says. “What is the name of your home?” You ask as you finish writing. “Narnia. It is a wonderful place filled with wonderful creatures. I just hope to Aslan that I can find it again!” She said, getting weepy again. “Who is Aslan?” You ask. “What a strange world you much come from not to know of Aslan. He is the great lion who created the world! He’s the most magnificent creature ever.” She said, astonished at your ignorance. “Well, let’s see if we can find Narnia for you.” You say looking towards the many pools. “Where shall we start?” “To the left I saw four pools that I have not entered. Next to one, the dust is a gold color, not silver like you see at most of the other pools. One has a word written next to it in the sand. Another appears to have a sign leaning next to it against some trees. Finally, there is a pool by a tree next to a little brook. What do you think? Perhaps all that glitters is gold? Maybe with a word we can get what we came for? Will the sign on the wall lead us home? Or shall we try a pool next to a tree by the brook? Which do you think we should enter?”

- If you hope that ALL THAT GLITTERS IS GOLD – page 6 - If you hope that WITH A WORD SHE CAN GET WHAT SHE CAME FOR – page 7 -If you think the SIGN ON THE WALL will get you home – page 8 -If you think your path lies near the TREE BY THE BROOK – page 9

ALL THAT GLITTERS IS GOLD (Magic Kingdom of Landover Series – Terry Brooks) Not knowing what to expect next, you and Gael clasp one another’s hand and step into the pool surrounded by the golden dust. The disorientation that you felt before returns and then, just as swiftly, ends. The two of you find yourself standing in a dismal and frightening forest, completely unlike the calm, serene forest from which you came. Trees spread before you in a tangle of trunks, limbs, and vines, and the uneven ground thrust upward sharply into their mass. It is if a nightmare has come to life before your very eyes. The sky is shrouded by a roiling, dark, dank mist that tentatively eased into the forest, surrounding you, obscuring your vision and covering you with dread. “This is not where I come from.” Gael says with a quivering voice. “Perhaps the pool doesn’t send you back to the exact spot from where you left.” You say, not knowing if you believe that or not. “Maybe we should try and find someone who can tell us where we are.” “Let’s hope we find someone soon,” says Gael, “because I would prefer any place to this one.” “Agreed.” You state as you tentatively begin making your way through the forest, holding Gael’s hand as you walk. After traveling a short distance, you hear a twig snap and you and Gael come to a complete halt. “Did you hear that?” You whisper to your companion. “Yes.” She answers, her eyes wide with fear of the unknown. The two of you begin a search of the nearby forest when abruptly a man pushes his way through the thicket and stops, staring at you with confusion. “Who are you?” he asks in a voice a bit more timid than you expected from a being trotting through woods as fear-provoking as these. After giving the man your names you explain, “We are travelers who are trying to find our way home. Who are you and where are we?” “My name is Ben Holiday, but my friends call me Doc. I’m originally from Chicago, but now I’m the King of Landover.” “The King of Landover?” You ask skeptically. “It’s a long story involving a Christmas catalog, disenchantment with my life, and, perhaps, the worse real estate deal in the history of the world. Let’s just say that you might want to avoid advertisements entitled ‘Magic Kingdom for Sale’. All that glitters is not gold.” “So, this isn’t actually Chicago or the U.S. or the normal world?” You ask apprehensively. “I’m afraid not. This is the Deep Fell and I am on a mission to recruit Nightshade, one of the most powerful wielders of magic in Landover, to help me defeat the Mark, lord of Abaddon, and claim my rightful throne. I wish I could help you.” “Thank you anyway and good luck!” you say to the would-be-king before turning to Gael, “Back to the Wood Between the Worlds?” Gael nods and the two of you touch the silver dust and find yourself transported back from where you came. You mark this pool with a pile of rocks and look around at all the other pools. There appears to be rings of smoke coming from a nearby pool and another pool just west of your location. You turn to Gael and ask, “Shall we look to the west or try the pool with the rings of smoke through those trees?”

- If you are guided to LOOK TO THE WEST – page 10 -If you think you should try the RINGS OF SMOKE – page 11 WITH A WORD…. (ENCHANTED FOREST) (The Unwanteds Series – Lisa McMann) You and Gael walk up to the pool and read the word Artimé in the sand. Not knowing what to expect next, you and Gael clasp one another’s hand and step into the pool. The disorientation that you felt before returns and then, just as swiftly, ends. The two of you find yourself standing in what appears to be a battlefield, quite different from the serene forest you left.. It is a strange sight. From your vantage point you can see two completely different landscapes. You are standing on a lush carpet of grass, with water fountains nearby, thousands of beautiful trees scattered far and wide, and a sky of bright cerulean blue overhead, but across the field you can see a land covered in dust, rocks, and weeds with a grey sky of misery overhead. Soldiers are approaching and firing their weapons into groups of children, adults, and strange creatures, all of whom seem quite prepared for the onslaught. Unlike the soldiers, however, this strange assortment of colorfully dressed people and creatures are brandishing art materials, musical instruments, and books. It is the strangest battle you can ever have imagined. You and Gael watch as some children begin throwing balls of clay, paper clips, and paint at the soldiers, others begin to recite poetry, and some burst into song. These strange attacks cause some of the soldiers to stiffen and fall, others to simply freeze, and some come to a more violent end. The soldiers fight back with weapons that appear old, rusty, and in disrepair, but still they cause death and destruction all around. As bullets fly over your head, you pull Gael to the ground and try to avoid being slaughtered in this chaos. A shadow falls over you and cautiously you look overhead to see a tall, thin man dressed in a flowing multicolored robe standing above you. A fluffy shock of white hair stands up on his head as if he has just been struck by lightning and he has a curious, confused look upon his face. “Who are you?” he asks in a voice a bit more calm than you expected from someone standing in the middle of a battlefield. After giving the man your names you explain, “We are travelers who are trying to find our way home. Who are you and where are we?” “My name is Marcus Today and this is Artimé. I’m afraid you’ve shown up at a most inopportune time. While I would love to show you the wonders of our little world, we are currently under attack by the Quillitary and they seem quite intent on destroying us.” “I don’t think this is my world.” Gael says to you. “I’m afraid not.” Marucs says. “I wish I could help you find your way back, but at the moment I’m a little busy.” “Thank you anyway and good luck against that army!” you say to the strange man before turning to Gael, “Back to the Wood Between the Worlds?” Gael nods and says, “To the forest!”, the two of you touch the silver dust and you feel yourself beginning to transport back from where you came. As you are disappearing you hear Marcus say, “Powerful magic. With a word she can get what she came for…”. Arriving back in the forest, you mark this pool with a pile of rocks and look around at all the other pools. There appears to be rings of smoke coming from a nearby pool and another pool just west of your location. You turn to Gael and ask, “Shall we look to the west or try the pool with the rings of smoke through those trees?”

- If you are guided to LOOK TO THE WEST – page 10 -If you think you should try the RINGS OF SMOKE – page 11 SIGN ON THE WALL (Prydain Chronicles – Lloyd Alexander) The sign on the wall of trees reads “Caer Dallben” which means nothing to your, but Gael gets a little excited. “I don’t know of a Caer Dallben in Narnia, but the Kings and Queens of Narnia reside at Cair Paravel. Maybe this castle also lies in Narnia?” she says, looking at you with longing. You take her hand and plunge into the water. You and Gael appear suddenly in the middle of a pig pen, ankle deep in mud, slop, and goodness knows what else. Making your way to the edge of the pen, you help her over the fence and onto the soft green grass of the other side. There you notice a young man staring at you in wonder. You sheepishly smile and give him a little wave as you walk towards him. He steps back from you and asks, “Who are you, where did you come from, and why did you just appear in our pig pen?” You tell the boy your names and then explain. “We are travelers trying to find our home. We came from a magic place that transports us to new worlds. We never know where we are going or exactly where we will materialize, but we keep hoping to find home. Where are we?” “This is Caer Dallban, the home of Dallban, my master. You are in Prydain. My name is Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper.” The title causes you to hold back a laugh, but prompts you to ask, “Exactly what does an Assistant Pig-Keeper do?” “I care for Hen Wen. She is the only oracular pig in all of Prydain.” Taran says with a huff. “Oracular pig? Do you think it is possible that she might help us on our journey?” You plead. “She never tells me anything, but she does speak to the master. I will ask him.” Taran says as he heads to what appears to be the main house, medieval looking with roof covered in hay. Shortly, Taran appears with an ancient gentleman with a beard so full and long it appeared as if he were looking through a cloud. “So, travelers, I am Dallben. Taran tells me that you seek knowledge from Hen Wen.” The old man says as his eyes stare deep into yours. “I will ask her what she knows of your journey and give you her answer.” “Thank you!” you say to the old man as he approaches the enclosure and leans over to a large, white pig and places a series of sticks upon the ground. Dallben speaks to the pig and the pig begins moving the sticks upon the ground. When she finishes, the old man looks at the sticks, retrieves then, and returns to where you, Gael, and Taran stand. “She said your journey will be a long one. She said there will be many choices to be made, but choosing correctly will keep you safe and lead you home. She checked the letter sticks twice because she wanted to be sure, ‘cause you know sometimes words have two meanings…there are six pools of death that stand in your way. Keep the dust near to your heart because it will send you home.” Dallban says, as he watches your face for understanding. “Thank her for the advice, sir. We will be careful.” You say to him as you look at Gael. “Back to the Wood Between the Worlds?” Gael nods and you both touch the silver dust and find yourselves back in the forest. Marking the pool, you pick up a couple of sounds. From the woods near one pool you seem to hear laughter, but also you hear a recorder playing a soft melody coming from a different pool. You turn to Gael and ask, “Shall we try the forest echoing with laughter or shall we hope that this mysterious piper will lead us to reason out our predicament?”

- If you follow the CALL OF THE TUNE of the mysterious piper – page 12 -If you think that FORESTS THAT ECHO IN LAUGHTER is a safer bet – page 13 TREE BY THE BROOK (Peter Pan Series – J. M. Barrie) Confusion overwhelms you when you materialize in this new world. It appears that you are on a wooden slide and traveling downward at a quick pace. Gael does not appear to be near you until you are unceremoniously dumped at the bottom of the slide onto a dirt floor. There are multicolored toadstools all around and a bird sits on a branch nearby. Hearing a gasp nearby, you turn and see that Gael has arrived in the same way as you. “Where are we?” You ask Gael quietly. “I have no idea.” She answers as she looks around the room. An arrow impales the ground near you and you jump with fright. Peering from around branches and leaves, a group of boys enters the room, bows trained on the two of you. “This is our Home Under the Ground. I am Nibs. This is Tootles, Slightly, Pickles, and the twins. Who are you? Did Peter bring you here?” You explain who you are and how you arrived and then ask, “Who is Peter? Is he in charge?” “I think we should shoot them.” Curly says. “No,” says Tootles, “remember what happened with Wendy? We will wait for Peter to tell us what to do.” You look at Gael and find her clutching the vial with the dust. You nod and begin inching your way toward her, but before you can get more than a few inches closer to her, someone lands on the ground between you. Looking up, you notice a boy who is wearing an outfit of autumn leaves bound together by cobwebs. His eyes are mischievous and his smile is infectious. The other boys immediately shout “Peter!”, but they do not take their aim off you or your companion. “Who do we have here?” the wild boy asks the two of you. Once again you find yourself explaining your predicament. Peter’s smile disappears and you begin to get apprehensive about your fate. “This is a most unusual story.” He says. “How do I know you are not spies for the pirates?” “We don’t even know any pirates!” You plead. “Maybe if we gave them to the pirates they would leave us alone for a time!” Slightly says with a grin. “Or we can give them to the redskins! Or to the savage beasts!” “Perhaps.” Says Peter, one hand on his side and the other hand on his chin. “Or we could ask Tinkerbell to help us find out the truth.” Peter walks over to a curtain that covers an alcove in the tree and speaks softly. A tiny wisp of a girl that shines as brightly as a star flies from behind the curtain and begins hovering in front of you. You don’t move as this fairy flies around you, staring at you and Gael. As she does, the bird on the branch begins to whistle. Tink finally approaches Peter and whispers to him. “Tink says she believes you. Use what magic you have to return from where you came. Be careful not to return because next time Neverland might bring you to a horrible end. You might wind up on the pirate ship instead of in our tree by the brook. Luckily, the songbird sings that our thoughts are misgiving about you.” Peter says. Returning to the wood, you mark this pool. While placing the stones, you pick up a couple of sounds. From the woods near one pool you seem to hear laughter, but also you hear a recorder playing a soft melody coming from a different pool. You turn to Gael and ask, “Shall we try the forest echoing with laughter or shall we hope that this mysterious piper will lead us to reason out our predicament?” - If you follow the CALL OF THE TUNE of the mysterious piper – page 12 -If you think that FORESTS THAT ECHO IN LAUGHTER is a safer bet – page 13 LOOK TO THE WEST (Oz Series – L. Frank Baum) Unsettled by the strange experience, when you materialize in this new world you are unsure of your surroundings. It appears that you are inside an extremely old, incredibly large, and exceptionally beautiful castle. Before you and Gael can rise to your feet you find yourself surrounded on all sides by yellow-skinned men pointing spears in your direction. “Where are we? Is this your home?” You ask Gael quietly as you look around at the frightening men. “I have no idea.” She answers as she looks around the room, clearly panicked at the predicament you are both in. Abruptly, some of the guards separate and a woman approaches the two of you through the path they created. She is strangely dressed, wearing a tall pointy hat and a patch on one eye. The other eye stares at you with a burning intensity. She points what appears to be an umbrella at you and snarls, “Who are you? Did Oz, the great and terrible send you here?’ “We don’t know anyone by that name.” You say apprehensively. The woman reaches toward Gael and snatches the vial from her neck. “Then what is this? A vial filled with strange powder? This looks like the work of the Wizard himself! I do not believe you! Guards, throw them in with the lion! Maybe he will eat today!” She cackles as she places the vial in one of the pockets of her strange robe. The guards force you and Gael to your feet and, surrounding you, lead you down various hallways and stairwells. You eventually find yourself peering through a series of barred windows into a courtyard. In the center of the courtyard sat a lion. The guard pulls a ring of keys from his belt and opens the door as the others push you and Gael into the courtyard with the lion. You quickly turn to try and get back through the door, but hear the unsettling click of a lock and the footsteps of the guards as they march back down the hall. Turning your head slowly you notice something strange. The lion isn’t rushing toward you or attacking you. He is sitting on his haunches and looking at you with a slight tilt to his head. “You poor, poor girls! Prisoners of the Wicked Witch of the West!” the lion speaks. The talking lion still has your head in a whirl when Gael looks at him and asks tentatively, “Are YOU Aslan?” “No. I’m just a Cowardly Lion on a quest to help Dorothy get home and to get myself some courage.” “Who is Dorothy?” You ask when suddenly the door bursts open and a small girl stands before you. “I am.” She says as the lion rushes forth to greet her. “The witch is dead. We can find the Scarecrow and Tin Man and return to the Wizard now! There's a feeling I get, when I look to the west, and my spirit is crying for leaving!” “Mine too!” says the lion. You and Gael look at one another and you ask, “You didn’t happen to find a necklace with a vial on the witch, did you?” Dorothy smiles at the two of you and pulls the necklace from her pocket. Handing it to you and Gael, she says, “This was the only thing besides my silver slipper that was left of the witch when she melted away.” “Thank you so much!” The two of you say as you each touch the dust and disappear from this strange world. Returning to the wood, you mark this pool. There are leaves spinning in the air near one pool, two paths leading by another, but also you hear a recorder playing and soft lyrics coming from another. You turn to Gael and ask, “Shall we try the pool getting a spring clean, try one of the two paths, or go to the music and see if the piper is calling us to join him?”

- If you want to try the pool getting a SPRING CLEAN – page 14 If you think it’s TIME TO CHANGE THE ROAD and try the pool by the two paths – page 15 -If you think the PIPER IS CALLING YOU TO JOIN HIM – page 16 RINGS OF SMOKE (Elric of Melnibone Series – Michael Moorcock) You and Gael find yourselves thrown down onto a hard wooden surface. Sounds of metal clashing, men shouting, and moans of the unfortunate fill the air. Your other senses quickly become aware of the carnage surrounding you. Once again you seem to have found yourself in the middle of a heated battle. The two sides are easy to discern as one group is dressed in elaborate armor with intricate long swords while the other side wears crude, checkered armor and are armed with curved blades and small, oblong shields. The two of you quickly steady yourselves and back against a mast and away from the cacophony of violence surrounding you. It is from this vantage point that you first see him. His skin is the color of a bleached skull and his long hair, flowing from beneath a black helm, with a dragon's head craning over the peak, dragon's wings flaring backward above it, and a dragon's tail curling down the back, is milk-white. His armor is solid black and he holds a five-foot long broadsword. This snow-white champion heaves his sword at the vicious hordes surrounding him, cutting them down where they stand. His eyes, crimson and troubled, peer violently from the visor of his helmet and come to rest on the two of you. “Who are you and why are you on the Son of the Pyaray, pride of the fleet of Elric of Melnibone, (mel-ni-BO-nay)?” he asks. A quick explanation from you brings sadness to the eyes of what appears to be an already melancholy man. “Stay to the side and avoid harm. This battle will not rage forever and we shall soon decide what to do with you.” With that said, the man turns once more to battle. “We should leave.” You say to Gael. The confusion and fear on her face send a chill down your spine. “The chain holding the vial has broken. I don’t know where it is!” Looking around for the vial you see Elric stab an opponent as he is charged by another. As Elric attempted to step back, he tripped over the corpse of his first opponent and fell to the deck. The charging barbarian grinned and leapt towards the albino, but Elric managed to lift his broadsword up, running his foe through. The slain enemy toppled onto Elric and neither of them moved. You take in a small breath, saddened to see this sight, and continue your search for the vial. The battle rages on for a short time until the attackers have been repelled. It is as the battle wanes that you finally spy the vial, lying on the deck near Elric. A wave pouring over the side of the ship accomplishes two things: the vial is washed away and Elric is revived. Desperation washes over you like the wave that destroyed your chance of ever returning home. While bemoaning your loss, you can hear an exchange between Elric and a tall, dark-haired, broodingly elated soldier and before your very eyes you seen the man push Elric over the side of the ship with a shove of his boot. Laughing haughtily, the man turns and sees you and Gael. “Well, I don’t know who you are or from where you came, but tonight the Tower of Monshanjik will have two new visitors, it would appear. Your view of the forest shall be exquisite, especially the rings of smoke through the trees as we burn you at the stake for spying.” The man says with an evil sneer as you and Gael are roughly grabbed by guards and removed to the depths of the ship. Sadly, the game is over for you. Join us at CONjuration, November 6-8, 2020 at the Hilton Atlanta Airport for a NEW live-action Choose Your Own Adventure game! Tickets on sale now! www.conjurationcon.com! CALL THE TUNE (Charlie Bone Series – Jenny Nimmo) You arrive to your new destination in complete darkness. Reaching out in all directions, you feel someone’s hand and quietly whisper, “Gael?” “Yes.” The girl whispers back. Very faintly, you can hear the sound of recorders being played from somewhere nearby. You continue to reach out with your hand until you feel the wall in front of you. Running your hands along the wall, eventually you come upon what feels like a door knob. Taking Gael’s hand in yours, you gently turn the door knob in your hand until the door cracks open just slightly. The light that enters is dim, but you can begin to see where it is you have turned up. You appear to be inside a coat closet or, in this case, a cape closet. There are dozens of capes hanging around you and cases for what appears to be instruments pushed up against the walls of the closet. Looking at Gael and trying to be brave, you open the door until you can see a group of people in a half circle, all playing recorders while a disgruntled looking man stands before them. Before you realize what has happened, the man looks directly towards the closet and stares into your eyes. “Who are you and why are you disturbing my class?” The man yells at you and Gael. “We just arrived and don’t know where we are…” you begin to say before the man cuts you off with, “I don’t care who you are! My closet is not a place for you and neither is my class!” All the recorders have stopped playing and the class has turned their heads towards you. The teacher steps off of his podium and walks over to a thin boy with thick, wiry hair. “Charlie Bone, you have spent this entire lesson butchering beautiful music, so I think we can function quite well in your absence. Take these two to see Dr. Bloor. Take your time in coming back. I’m quite sure your “musical genius” won’t be missed.” The boy stands up and walks towards you and Gael. The look in his eyes says that he is apprehensive about this little excursion. Stepping behind you, he grabs a cape, puts it on, and then motions for the both of you to follow him. Once in the massive, gothic, stone hallway, he turns and asks, “Who are you and how did you wind up at Bloors Academy?” You and Gael fill him in on your story and he stands wide-eyed, shaking his head. “I can tell you that this is definitely not the home of either of you. You have fallen into Bloors Academy, the school for the Children of the Red King. I think you are going to have to try your luck in a different pool.” At that moment a voice cries out, “Who is that chattering in the hallway?” “Oh, no!” Charlie says, “That’s Manfred! If he gets to you then I don’t know what might happen!” “Thank you for leading us to reason, Charlie! We’ll be going now!” You say as you and Gael both touch the dust in her vial. Charlie fades away as you are whisked back to the Wood Between the Worlds. Once you have arrived back, you mark this pool as another dead end. Looking around, you notice that there are leaves spinning in the air near one pool, two paths leading by another, but also you hear a different recorder playing and soft lyrics coming from another pool. You turn to Gael and ask, “Shall we try the pool getting a spring clean, try one of the two paths, or go to the music and see if this new piper is calling us to join him?”

- If you want to try the pool getting a SPRING CLEAN – page 14 If you think it’s TIME TO CHANGE THE ROAD and try the pool by the two paths – page 15 -If you think the PIPER IS CALLING YOU TO JOIN HIM – page 16

FORESTS WILL ECHO IN LAUGHTER (Royal Institute of Magic Series – Victor Kloss) With a great thud, you and Gael find yourselves thrown onto the hard ground. The laughter that you heard from the forest is still surrounding you, but you can’t tell from which direction that it is coming. Looking around, you and Gael find that you have landed in a much different forest than the one you just left. As opposed to the hardwoods that are growing around the pools, this forest is filled with gigantic pine trees and the floor of the forest is littered with pine straw. The two of you stand and begin exploring the nearby area. “Is this Narnia?” You ask Gael. “I don’t know.” She answers nervously. “There are so many different parts to Narnia. We do have forests, but I don’t know if this one is from my home or not.” “Then we have no choice but to explore this forest until we either see something that you recognize or something that you know for sure is not from your home .” You answer her. The sun is high overhead, but the many trees make for a most pleasant stroll through the forest. It is comfortable and perfectly shady. You mark trees every so often with a sharp stone so that you can make sure that you don’t start walking in circles. After a while you began to hope for signs of berries or nuts because the hunger pangs were starting. “Let’s stop and rest.” You say to Gael, who looked as tired and hungry as you. The two of you sit at the base of a large tree and survey the area around you. It is all starting to look exactly the same to you. The trees looked the same, the bushes looked the same, the forest floor looked the same…..Into what strange land have you entered? Is this actually your world? Is this Gael’s world? The answer comes in the form of an arrow that embeds itself into the tree, just above your head. “You are trespassing.” A hollow voice seemed to float around you. “The arrows are the only warning you will get. Leave now.” “Where is that voice coming from?” You whisper to Gael. “I don’t know.” She answers. Lifting yourself slowly from the ground, you look anxiously around and say, “We don’t know where we are and we don’t know how to leave. Please help us.” “You are trespassing. The arrows are the only warning you will get. Leave now.” The voice answered. “Really! Please, we need your help!” You plead with your head turning in all directions trying to find the owner of the voice. A small figure that looks like an elf steps from behind a nearby tree and comes towards the two of you. There is a glow around him that makes him look almost angelic. He smiles at you and says, “You were given a warning and you chose to ignore it. You will join your Institute friends rebuilding the forest that your people helped destroy until you’ve paid your due. Follow the green light.” You try to look at Gael, but find that you can’t move. You are completely mesmerized by a green light that has appeared nearby. You feel as if it is calling you, directing your movement, controlling your actions and leading you to a completely foreign world. As you walk to the light you feel the wind blowing and you hear the forests echoing with laughter…..

Sadly, the game is over for you. Join us at CONjuration, November 6-8, 2020 at the Hilton Atlanta Airport for a NEW live-action Choose Your Own Adventure game! Tickets on sale now! www.conjurationcon.com! SPRING CLEAN (The Dark is Rising Sequence – Susan Cooper) Landing in a new world, the air feels crisp and cool in your lungs as you inhale deeply. There is something familiar about the smell and taste of the air around you. After a few seconds you recognize what your senses are telling you: you are near the ocean. “Do you hear waves crashing against the shore?” Gael asks. Listening carefully, you answer, “Yes, but the sound makes me think we are still a bit of distance away. Where have we landed?” Looking around, it is easy for you to see most of your surroundings. The moon is completely full and the sky is clear. You and Gael seem to be standing in the middle of a field. The field seems to be bordered by short walls on all the sides, but even with the moon shining, it isn’t easy to discern what exactly you are seeing. Reaching over, you take Gael’s hand and begin walking through the field towards the sound of the crashing waves. The abrupt appearance of three dark figures startles you and you come to a halt. They don’t appear to be adults, but rather three children of different ages and they are running on other side of the barrier at the end of the field. Deciding that they might be of assistance to you, you call out, “Wait, please help us!” The three children stop and you and Gael trot over to meet them. It is here that you notice that the barrier is actually a hedge that is separating the field from another field. There are two boys and one girl standing there acting very nervous. “We can’t stop now!” the younger of the two boys says to the others. “What if they really do need our help?” the girl asks. “If we don’t find the Grail then the Dark will take over and EVERYBODY will need our help.” The older boy states as he turns from you and begins to once again run away. “Sorry! Good luck!” the girl says as she runs after her brother. “But….but….” You stammer, a bit stunned that they just ran away without even finding out who you were. “What do you think, Gael? Did they look like inhabitants of Narnia?” “It was awfully hard to see how they were dressed, but I don’t think so.” She says somberly. Just as you are about to respond, hands grab you and pin your arms to your side causing you to scream in fright. Gael is also letting out a screech as she is caught by another set of hands. “We’ve got you now!” a man’s voice says. “Wait, these aren’t the right kids.” The woman says with angry disappointment. “They are probably working with the Drew kids. Tie them up. We will put them on the boat and take care of them later.” The man says in a voice that frightens you to your core. “But we don’t even know those kids!” You plead. “Well, you caused a bustle in this hedgerow and we can’t take chances. You can just call me the May Queen because I’m about to do a little spring clean.” The woman says with a voice that chills your bones. They drag you away, eventually locking the both of you in the belly of their boat. It is a boat from which you can’t see any means of escape.

Sadly, the game is over for you. Join us at CONjuration, November 6-8, 2020 at the Hilton Atlanta Airport for a NEW live-action Choose Your Own Adventure game! Tickets on sale now! www.conjurationcon.com! TIME TO CHANGE THE ROAD (Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll) This world feels strange from the moment you materialize. There is something that is just not right about this world. You look around and see that you are standing on a path that leads through a wooded area and a meadow. Looking at Gael, you ask tentatively, “Does this feel like Narnia?” “I don’t think so. This world has a very unusual feel about it, doesn’t it?” Gael asks. “Yes, it does, but I don’t know what Narnia is like, so I wasn’t sure.” You answer. “Let’s see if we can find someone to ask.” The two of you begin to walk down the path, looking carefully to the right and left, unsure of what or who you might find lurking in the woods or the tall grass. Ahead of you, the path diverges and in between the two paths there is a large tree. Sitting in the bough of the tree is the strangest cat that you have ever seen. You squeeze Gael’s hand and she looks up and sees the same cat. As you approach closer the cat grins at you. You have to do a double-take because cats don’t grin at home. The cat looks good-natured, even though it had very long claws and a great many teeth. That makes you think that perhaps it ought to be treated with respect. “Hello, strange cat. How are you?” “I’m not sure I’m strange,” the cat responded to your utter shock, “but I am mad. We’re all mad here.” Gael turns to you and says, “We have many talking animals in Narnia. Perhaps we have found my home!” Looking back at the cat in the bough, you say, “Is this Narnia?” “What a strange question! What a strange word! I think to use a word like that must mean that you are also mad!” the cat says with an even wider grin. “My friend is from Narnia. We are trying to find the way back to her home.” You explain to the cat. “You don’t know if we can get to Narnia from here, do you?” “Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough. There are two paths you can go by, but in the long run, there's still time to change the road you're on.” You believe that the cat may be misleading you, so you try another question. ‘What sort of people live about here?’ “In that direction,” the Cat said, waving its right paw round, “lives a Hatter: and in that direction,” waving the other paw, “lives a March Hare. They’re both mad.” “But we don’t want to go around mad people,” you remark, “we only want to get my friend home.” “Oh, you can’t help that,” said the Cat, “we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.” ‘How do you know I’m mad?’ you ask. “You must be,” said the Cat, “or you wouldn’t have come here.” Turning to Gael you say, “I think we should try a different pool.” She nods at you and as you turn back to the cat he says, “Alright then, good luck” and then he vanished quite slowly, beginning with the end of the tail, and ending with the grin, which remained some time after the rest of it had gone. Returning back to the wood, you and Gael survey the area around you. There is a curving road to your left and you feel a gentle breeze from the right that almost whispers to you. “Well, Gael, shall we go toward the whispering wind or down the road?” - If you want to follow THE WHISPERING WIND – page 17 -If you think the correct path is DOWN THE ROAD – page 18 THE PIPER’S CALLING YOU TO JOIN HIM (The Magicians - Lev Grossman) The world spins around you until suddenly you find yourself standing in the middle of a road surrounded by a forest. You turn to Gael and find that she is also visually investigating the area around you. “What do you think, Gael? Could this be Narnia? I’m not used to seeing dirt roads, but that doesn’t mean that this might not be my world as well.” “We have many forests in Narnia. This could be one of them, but I don’t know for sure. We need to find someone who can tell us where we are.” Gael answers. The music that you’d heard coming from the pool in the wood between the worlds has now grown louder and you find yourself tilting your head in an effort to ascertain where it might be coming from. It sounds as if the music is drifting towards you from just down the road, so you point in that direction and you and Gael begin walking towards the sound. When you finally make it around a curve in the road you are met with a sight that you did not expect. There is a satyr sitting crossed-legged in the middle of the road playing a pipe. Stopping suddenly, you turn to Gael and see that she has a smile on her face. “It’s a faun!” She says gleefully. “We must be in Narnia!” Hearing the sound of Gael’s voice causes the satyr to suddenly stop playing, rise to his hooves, and trot in your direction. “New people! How nice! Who are you and where did you come from?” the Faun asks with a smile. You and Gael relay your story to him and he begins to shake his head slowly. “I’m afraid you have not found your home. This is not Narnia. This is Fillory. Or Loria. I can’t ever remember exactly where I am. It is a confusing time what with the war and all.” “Well, I guess it’s back to the pools for another try.” You say to Gael who looks completely downhearted. “I know someone who may be able to steer you in the right direction.” The faun says with a gleam in his eye. “Who?” You and Gael say at the same time. “Why, the mighty god, Ember! I can take you there. If anyone can help you get home, it’s Ember!” “What do we have to lose?” You say to Gael as the two of you follow the faun down the road. After a short while, the satyr turns and leads you between the trees and through the forest. Exiting the forest, you arrive in a large field with a hill at its center. The hill is smooth and green. Set into its base is a simple doorway; two enormous rough stone slabs standing upright with a third slab laid across them. The satyr leads the two of you closer and that’s when you see the creatures, two of them, running flat out across the wet grass. It is almost funny. They aren’t human, and they don’t seem to belong to the same species as each other either, but they are both cute. One is something like a giant hare, maybe four feet tall and about that wide. The other one is more like a ferret, but it is about seven feet tall. Its face is chinless, with prominent front teeth. At first it looks like this odd couple might be running to greet you, but you see that the Bunny has short, stubby swords in both its front paws, held out steady in front of him as he runs, and the ferret is hefting a quarterstaff. “I’m so sorry, my new friends,” the satyr says, “I’m sure your head is humming with confusion right now, but I’ve had a spell cast on me that forces me to call people to join me. The gods require sacrifices and this is, after all, war.” The last thing you see is a giant rabbit, swords at hand, leaping on top of you and the last thing you hear are the screams of Gael as the world goes dark around you. Sadly, the game is over for you. Join us at CONjuration, November 6-8, 2020 at the Hilton Atlanta Airport for a NEW live-action Choose Your Own Adventure game! Tickets on sale now! www.conjurationcon.com! THE WHISPERING WIND (Land of Stories Series – Chris Colfer) The world in which you land is freezing. Not just a little cold. Frigid. You have never been so cold in all of your life. You turn to Gael and see that she is shivering as much as you. Your teeth chattering, you look at her and ask, “Is this Narnia?” “At one time, the White Witch turned Narnia into a frozen wasteland. It is always possible that she may have returned to cause havoc in my world again.” Gael answers. “We need to find someone to ask….and soon! If we stay here too long we will freeze to death.” You say to Gael. As if in answer to your desire, you see a group of people just ahead of you, trudging through the snow up a nearby hill. Above them you see the northern lights gleaming. You grab Gael’s hand and run as quickly as you can through the snow to try and catch up to the group before they disappear from sight. The snow slows you down, but not as much as the cold. Making your way through this world is proving to be the greatest challenge you’ve ever faced. The group ahead seems to be having just as much trouble though and they aren’t going as fast as you, so there is hope that you will catch up to them before long. The wind screamed against your skin, burning you with its blistering cold. The group ahead crested the hill and you and Gael push onward, trying desperately to reach them soon. As the two of you top the hill, you see the group entering a small opening between two enormous glaciers. You scramble down the hill and reach the entrance and are pleased that the walls of this glacier are keeping the wind at bay. The snow isn’t as deep as it was outside and it has become easier to walk. Quickening your pace, you follow the group as they zigzag through these mountainous glaciers, twisting and turning every few feet. It is easy to follow the group, even with them out of sight, because one of them is marking the trail through the glacier by cutting it with a knife or some other pointed instrument. Suddenly you begin to hear voices and you and Gael slow down and ease up to the group. None of them are talking, they are all looking out of the cavern across a gigantic crater at an icy throne upon which sits a tall woman with a large white fur coat and a snowflake crown. Her skin is so pale and frostbitten it is practically blue. She is clutching a long icicle scepter in one hand and her other hand was being stroked by a polar bear. Very tentatively you reach out to a woman with the group and say, “Excuse me, can you help us?” Before you know what has hit you, a blonde woman wielding a very large dagger has pinned you against the wall and is whispering through gritted teeth, “Who are you and what are you doing following us?” A man with the group steps forward and holds onto the blonde woman’s arm and says, “Goldilocks, they are just children. Let them speak.” You and Gael tell your story and you find that the other two members of this party, children, are smiling at you. “We are also from the ‘normal world’. I’m afraid this isn’t Narnia, it’s the Land of Stories. You’ll have to try again. You don’t want to be in this place. The stairway to your world lies on the whispering wind of another world. Good luck on your journey!” You and Gael touch the dust and find yourselves back in the Wood Between the World. Looking around at the pools, you could swear you just saw a lady that looks familiar by a nearby pool. You and Gael run in that direction and find two pools next to one another: the one where you think the lady went and another that has gold colored grass growing around it. “Well, shall we follow the lady who shines white light or try this one where everything is gold?” -If you think you should go where THERE WALKS A LADY WE ALL KNOW – page 19 -If you think the correct path is near WHERE EVERYTHING STILL TURNS TO GOLD– page 20

DOWN THE ROAD (The Young Wizards series By Diane Duane) It was a city street just like a thousand that you’ve seen before. And there are tall buildings lining the street. What you don’t see are people. There is not a single person in sight. There is a dim, grey sky above and the world around you has much the same hue. Looking at Gael, you are about to ask her if this is Narnia (and how horrible for her if that were true), but you are suddenly distracted by the sound of a car engine. Turning to look over your shoulder, you see headlights. There are four sets pointing in your direction and you hear the cars revving their engines. “Run!” you scream at Gael as you grab her hand and charge down the street. Hoping to avoid the cars, you and Gael run up on the sidewalk, but the screeching tires and loud bumps behind you seem to say that the cars have little regard for sidewalks. The two of you rush to the next corner and just as you round it you find yourself staring at four gigantic hooves of a horse that is huge and misproportioned. The skin on the head of the creature is so thin that you can see the outlines of bone, it’s eyes are pitch black, and it’s mouth is pulled back into a hollow grin. It took a few seconds for you to realize that the horse was actually made of metal, but the rider sitting astride the beast was not. A handsome man wearing chainmail and draped in a cloak so dark that it appeared to you as if light could never escape it was staring at you and muttering something in a language completely unknown to you. You quickly turn to Gael and find her opening the bottle of dust. The two of you touch the dust at the same time and find that absolutely nothing happens. The man astride the terrible horse begins to laugh at you. “Your magic will not work for you any longer.” The man said with a smirk. “I have silenced your power.” “Where are we?” You ask him. “As if you don’t know!” The man shouts at you. “You and the others from your world have passed over to steal from me and that, my dear child, is NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!” Thunder rings out all around you and you hear the car engines once again revving. Looking over your shoulder you notice all four of the cars have turned the corner and are slowly creeping up on you and Gael. “But we just want to get home!” Gael says. “We aren’t here to steal anything!” “And you won’t either.” The man says quietly as he leans towards you and Gael. “My creatures want you. I like it when I can give my creatures what they want. I would start running now, children, for all the good it is going to do!” You and Gael begin running as fast as you can, dodging old wrecks and tipped over garbage cans. The sounds of the car engines grow louder as you hear the man on the iron steed say, “Wind on down the road, children, but remember that our shadows are taller than your souls!” Tripping over a crack in the sidewalk and falling to the ground, the last thing you see is the grill of an old battered, beaten cab as it creeps toward you with its hood open and a long, pale ropey tongue snaking in your direction.

Sadly, the game is over for you. Join us at CONjuration, November 6-8, 2020 at the Hilton Atlanta Airport for a NEW live-action Choose Your Own Adventure game! Tickets on sale now! www.conjurationcon.com! THERE WALKS A LADY WE ALL KNOW (Percy Jackson Series – Rick Riordan) You and Gael appear on a deserted two-lane road. You can see a closed down gas station, a tattered billboard for an old movie, and one open business, which was had a neon light that said “Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium” and a really good smell coming from within. It wasn't a fast-food restaurant, but rather one of those weird roadside curio shops with a snack bar. The main building was a long, low warehouse, surrounded by acres of statuary. Flanking the entrance were two cement garden gnomes, ugly bearded little runts, smiling and waving, as if they were about to get their picture taken. Recognizing this place for what it is, you already know the answer to the question you are about to ask. ”This isn’t Narnia, is it, Gael?” “No, I don’t recognize any of this.” She answers sadly. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry!” You say and notice her nodding her head vigorously. “It smells like that place across the street has hamburgers. Let’s go get something to eat!” The two of you cross the street and enter the strange little curio shop. Just as you are about to peer through the widow, a woman opens the door and smiles at you. She is wearing a long black gown that covers everything but her hands and her head is completely veiled. Her eyes glint behind a curtain of black gauze and he coffee-colored hands look old, but well-manicured and elegant, so you can imagine that once she had been a beautiful lady. Her accent sounds vaguely Middle Eastern as she says, "Are you children hungry? It is getting late and one should never skip dinner.” “Yes ma’am.” You answer. “We smelled your hamburgers and thought we’d come in for a bite to eat.” “Well, I am about to close for the evening, but I think I could make one last dinner for two hungry children.” The lady leads you to a table and then walks to the back of the room. You and Gael look around at all of the statues that decorate the shop. They are everywhere. Some of them look pleasant, but others have the strangest expression on their faces. They almost have a look of shock or horror on their faces. You think they might look good as Halloween decorations, but you sure wouldn’t put them in your garden Before you can respond, the lady comes back into the room with two plates. Hamburgers and fries for both you and Gael. It is a meal you are used to, but Gael seems to be eating something that is completely new to her. You can tell by the expression on her face that she is enjoying it though. You finish the meal and find the lady sitting at the table and smiling at you. You smile back even though she is making you feel a little uncomfortable. Looking at Gael, you say, “I think we should be heading home, don’t you?” Gael nods as the old lady stands and says, “Oh, but I have a small request of you. I won’t charge you for the food if you will do me the honor of posing for me. I do love to make statues from children. I’ll take a quick photo of you in the garden and then you can be on your way.” You and Gael look at one another, shrug your shoulders and follow the lady to the garden. She poses you and steps back. “Smile!” she says to you as she brings her hands up to her face. She doesn’t have a camera. She is pulling the veil from her face. This IS a lady you know and you know what she will show you and Gael. When the veil is removed and you get a glimpse of the old lady’s snake covered head, you feel your body stiffen and the world around you darken. Sadly, the game is over for you. Join us at CONjuration, November 6-8, 2020 at the Hilton Atlanta Airport for a NEW live-action Choose Your Own Adventure game! Tickets on sale now! www.conjurationcon.com! WHERE EVERYTHING STILL TURNS TO GOLD (Spellsinger Series – Alan Dean Foster) You and Gael arrive in this new world on your bottoms with a slight bump. Looking around, you find that you are sitting underneath a rather large tree. The temperature was pleasant and a nice breeze was blowing. The grass beneath you is soft, the trees are full of leaves, flowers are blooming, and you can hear birds singing around you. Gael looks at you and smiles, “This could be Narnia!” Just as those words came out of her mouth you are startled. Size and attire alone would have made the giant otter worthy of notice, even if he hadn't tripped over Gael's feet. Sprawled whiskers down in the grass, you notice that the creature is almost the exact same height as you. The creature was unusual not just because of its height, but also because it is wearing a green felt hat, a snakeskin vest, and maroon velveteen pants puffed at the ankles. The creature rolls over onto its rump and tugs its feathered cap down firmly over its cookie-shaped ears and commences to gather up arrows that had spilled from the quiver slung across its back. The task is complicated by the short sword and scabbard strapped across his chest, which keeps getting in the way. An occasional murderous stare directed toward Gael gives you the feeling that the animal would enjoy putting one of the foot-long shafts into her. Having placed the last arrow in its quiver, the otter was carefully sliding it around to his back. This done, he gazed at the ground surrounding you three. His sharp black eyes took in every tree and bush. Eventually the alert gaze came around to rest on the two of you. "As your foot caused me t' fall and lose m’lunch, you can bloody well go and find it for me." “It talks! Oh, we must be in Narnia!” Gael squealed gleefully. "Be you daft?" The otter's head cocks nervously to one side and a furry paw scratchs his cheek. " 'Cor, I believe you are." He looks around warily. "I know not what influences are bein' brought t' bear in this place, but it's cost me a meal. I'm for leavin'. Will you not at least apologize?" “We are sorry, sir. We are travelers trying to get home…” You begin telling him the tale of who you are and how you arrived in this place. When you finish, the otter looks at you and in a softer tone says, “As to where we are, that be simple enough to say. These be the Bellwoods, as any fool knows. We're a couple days' walk out o' Lynchbany Towne, and my name be Mudge. What might yours be, sor, if you 'ave a name?" Telling him your names, you ask, “Is this anywhere Narnia?” "Look 'ere, kiddies," he said solemnly, "I know not whether you be balmy or bewitched, but you'd best get hold of yourself. I've not the time t' solve your problems or wipe away those baby-bottom tears you're about to be spillin'. You're not in Narnia, nor ‘ave I ere heard of it. Listen hard to me, ‘cause ever’thing I say is gold. Appears to me that you been magicked here, you poor blighters, and yee’d best be magicking your way outta here. T’ain’t safe for two kiddies to be wanderin’ these woods." You and Gael touch the dust and return to the wood. Sighing, you look around at so many pools. A soft tune is coming from one of them and, nearby, another is surrounded by stones that are almost square in shape. Turning to Gael you ask, “Well, has the correct tune come to us at last or shall we try the pool near those rocks that won’t roll?”

- If you think THE TUNE WILL COME TO YOU AT LAST – page 21 -If you want TO BE A ROCK AND NOT TO ROLL – page 22

THE TUNE WILL COME TO YOU AT LAST (Narnia Series – C. S. Lewis) The world around you was louder than any that you had entered before. Everywhere you look there are people milling about in narrow streets bordered by sandy colored buildings that seem to have been hewn out of rocky cliffs. One of the things you notice most of all is that the clothes being worn by these people seem to bear an amazing resemblance to the garb worn by Gael. You begin to turn towards her when she suddenly grabs hold of you and, beaming broadly, says, ”This is my home! This town is Narrowhaven! This is Narnia!” A feeling of relief washes over you. Some of those other worlds were beginning to worry you. How easily you might have entered a world from which there was no return! Gael grabs your hand and pulls you along as she runs down the hilly streets. You don’t know where she is leading you, but you happily follow. At the foot of the hill you notice that this city obviously sits along a seashore. There are many boats moored along dozens of docks, but Gael is rushing towards one in particular. A man is helping lift a large container onto one of the ships. Gael rushes up to him, grabs him by the waist and says, “father, I’m back!” The man looks at her lovingly, but with a confused look on his face. “I just saw you a few minutes ago, Gael. Did you come to give me another goodbye kiss before I journey to the mainland?” With a look of complete confusion on her face, Gael says, “But father, I’ve been gone for days and days! I’ve been trapped in a Wood Between the Worlds and couldn’t find our home again! See,” she says, pointing to you, “this is my new friend who helped me find our home again!” Gael’s father’s smile begins to fade as he takes a good hard look at you. Your clothing does not match what the others are wearing and your shoes certainly don’t. He stares at you and says, “Where are you from?” “I’m from another world, sir. I too was brought to the Wood Between the Worlds for reasons unknown to me. I’m just glad that I could be of help to Gael. Now that she is home again, I can return to where I come from.” You answer him. Gael removes the vial necklace and hands it to you. “Thank you for helping me get home! Perhaps one day we will meet again!” “Perhaps, but it’s probably best if we said our goodbyes here. Goodness knows it took long enough to find this place!” You say to her. After giving her a hug and waving to her father, you open the vial and touch the dust. Immediately you find yourself spinning back to the Wood Between the Worlds. Once there you begin looking for the pool back to your world. As you walk around the woods, you begin to get the feeling that you are being watched. Just as you approach the pool from where you entered this world, a gigantic lion steps from behind a tree. Startled, you gasp at the sight and stop where you are. “You proved very helpful to Gael,” the lion speaks to you, “I’m Aslan. I believe the Gael told you about me?” Tentatively you answer, “Yes, sir.” “Go back to your world, my child.” Aslan says. “Your goodness has placed you on a very special list. One day the tune will come to you at last and we will meet again, when all are one and one is all.” You aren’t sure exactly what he meant by that, but you nod to him and step into the pool that leads you back home. Congratulations!! Victory is yours!!! You have met adventure on many worlds and succeeded in returning home! Join us at CONjuration, November 6-8, 2020 at the Hilton Atlanta Airport for a NEW live-action Choose Your Own Adventure game! Tickets on sale now! www.conjurationcon.com! TO BE A ROCK AND NOT TO ROLL (Fablehaven Series – Brandon Mull) You and Gael find yourselves on the edge of some woods beside a large bush. Taking Gael by the hand, you walk around to the other side of the bush and see a thin wisp of smoke coming from what looks like a well that sits in a clearing at the bottom of a hill. You approach a waist-high cylinder of stone with a wooden windlass and a dangling bucket. It looks like a well, but where is that smell coming from, you ask yourself. Peering over the edge of the well, you can smell soup: meats, veggies, spices. Who would make soup in a well? “It smells delicious.” Gael says. “Should we try some?” “Lower the bucket?” You ask skeptically. “Why not?” Gael replies as she begins unwinding the rope, sending the bucket deeper. Eventually you heard it wetly hit bottom and the rope slackens. After a moment she began winding the bucket back up. She stops cranking and pulls the bucket up the last few feet by hand, sets it on the lip of the well. Inside the wooden bucket, bits of meat, cut carrots, potato fragments, and onion float in a fragrant yellow broth. “It looks like a normal stew,” Gael says. “Should we try it?” You ask. “No.” a voice says from behind you, causing you to almost jump out of your skin. Turning to where you heard the voice, you see a shirtless man with an exceptionally hairy chest and a pair of pointy horns above his forehead. From the waist down he has the legs of a shaggy goat. Wielding a knife, the satyr charges straight at the two of you as you slip and fall trying to get out of his way. Instead of attacking you, the goatman slashs the rope with his knife. “She's coming!” “Who?” You ask as you try and get to your feet. “I'd save the questions for later”, the satyr says. He seizes the bucket and starts down the hill, spilling soup as he goes. From the far side of the hill, you hear foliage rustling and branches crunching. Looking at Gael, the two of you grab hands and follow the satyr into a nearby bush. An instant after you duck out of sight, a bulky, hideous woman lumbers into view and approaches the well. She has a broad, flat face with saggy earlobes that hang almost to her hefty shoulders. Her misshapen form droops inside a coarse, homespun tunic. Her avocado skin has a texture like corduroy and her graying hair is shaggy and matted. She waddles from side to side as she walks and she is breathing heavily through her mouth. “There been peoples here,” she accuses in a husky, accented voice. “Where you peoples be?” The satyr places a finger against his lips. You and Gael stay as still as a rock, hoping that you won’t slip and begin rolling down the hill. The ogress lumbers down the slope toward your hiding place, sniffing high and low. “I heared peoples. I smelled peoples. And I smell my stew. Peoples been at my stew again. You peoples like my stew so much, maybe you take a bath in it.” Gael suddenly bolts from the bush and you reach to grab her. Before you can blink, the ogress has Gael in her clutches and is bearing down on you. Feeling her hairy, gnarled hand grab you around your waist, the last thing that you see is the satyr as he bolts off through the underbrush with a bucket in his hand. “More meat for the stew!” The ogress laughs. Sadly, the game is over for you. Join us at CONjuration, November 6-8, 2020 at the Hilton Atlanta Airport for a NEW live-action Choose Your Own Adventure game! Tickets on sale now! www.conjurationcon.com!